Samples of oil slick sent to chemistry department – Bernama
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has sent samples of an oil slick (pic) found in the South China Sea, about 100 nautical miles from the Tok Bali Beach, Kelantan, to the Chemistry Department in Petaling Jaya.
MMEA director-general Maritime Admiral Datuk Mohd Amdan Kurish said the samples, which were taken by KD Amanah, were sent to the department.
"The result of the analysis is expected to be known tomorrow (Monday) afternoon," he told reporters at a media conference on the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH370, at the MMEA Tok Bali 10th Maritime District Office here.
The MH370 aircraft which took off from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 12.41am on Saturday with 227 passengers and 12 crew, was reported missing while heading to Beijing, China.
Mohd Amdan said the samples had to be sent to the Chemical Department in Petaling Jaya because there was no such facilities in Kelantan and Terengganu.
He said the two kilometres long oil-slick was yellowish in colour and was different from the ubiquitous oil slick from oil spills of ships.
An air survey this evening, in the areas 70-100 nautical miles from the shore, in the waters of Terengganu, Kelantan and bordering Thailand and
Vietnam, did not reveal any sign of the MH370 aircraft.
He said the number of search and rescue teams was increasing, including the number of vessels and aircraft from the Royal Malaysian Air Force, Royal Malaysian Police and MMEA.
"We will continue the operation tomorrow in a new area involving 70 nautical miles up to the beach," he said.
Mohd Amdan said MMEA had taken proactive steps based on new information, on the possibility of the aircraft reverting back and going missing in the Straits of Melaka, by sending four patrol ships to conduct a search in the area 60 nautical miles from Langkawi, Kedah. – Bernama, March 10, 2014.
